Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Moving forward with broken marriage

11 replies

ThisOliveHelper · 26/10/2025 13:15

My husband and I married in April last year after two years of dating. He lived in one city and I live in a different one. Early on, I made clear that my career would require flexibility, but he reassured me it would be fine and said he lovrd ne nonmatter what and was commited to making it work.
A month after our wedding, I was assigned a training contract in my contract for 4 years, and we began house-hunting together. However, my husband seemed reluctant: he asked me to pay the initial holding deposit, then tried to pull out of the purchase at the last moment in December, and eventually did pay the majority of the deposit and stamp demanding reassurance we’d move to his hometown in 4 years.
At the same time, his mother became increasingly controlling, insisted we live in their area as this was the culturally acceptable thing, she undermined our house decisions, and told us our marriage was over both in january and august. When we moved into our home in January, my husband brought only a backpack and never truly settled.his family is very small it is literally his mum and sister and thats it which i feel amplifies her own dysfunction.
Between January and March, our relationship deteriorated. He stopped answering my calls, provoked me, filmed me in distress, and threatened to share the videos. By April he told me he wanted a divorce and moved out; I moved back in with my mum in May.
Since end of May he has been inconsistent—sometimes saying he wants to try, sometimes saying he doesn’t love me, accusing me of being after his money, refusing to contribute fairly to our joint finances despite being the main breadwinner. He threatened to call the police, so I made a few reports too.

Ive made errors too. During thw srparation i closed the joint account down and didny always lay him my share of the mortgage on time. It was often a week or two late for about 3 or 4 months but last month he withdrew the direct debit as punishment and made me pay more than my share (usually 30% but i paid 50% this month). He still hasnt paid his share so im worried it will go into arrears but he always pays things late or last minute.

Part of me still loves him and hopes the marriage can work; part of me is scared, unsure, and doesn’t know how to move forward. As soon as i filed the divorce papers the acrimony of the last 10 months disappeared and he said he wants to give things a go and even took me to an expensive very posh afternoon tea which id always wanted to do. I really feel scared to leave as im worried im leaving a good man and my life feels unbearable without him but thubgs arent all sunshine and rainbows with him. But in a way i just csnnkt at all imagine my life without this man in it and i feel so stuck. We are from the damr minority culutral background which is a major pull factor and at 35 im wofried ill br lefg alone and childless if i leave.

Can anyone provide any afvuce or has anyone been in something similar?

OP posts:
Nicefreshbedding · 26/10/2025 13:17

OP - just sack him off, please.

ThisOliveHelper · 26/10/2025 13:22

Edit - since may he has been coming down to the marital home and living there for a week or two. The marital home is in my hometoen and his job and home are in his city and he has a hybrud wfh job whereas mine is all over the place. I jjst feel so scared because he was the first man ive been invokved with nd in terrified ti lose him as i thought this was forever.

OP posts:
IGJ10 · 26/10/2025 14:04

He sounds awful. Please divorce him. The initial stages of a marriage should be a wonderful honeymoon period, even for couples who are a bit shaky. You haven’t even had a honeymoon period. I anticipate this only getting worse. If he’s making an effort now it’s for some ulterior motive that benefits himself. I would urge you to divorce whilst you haven’t been married long and can salvage a little self respect. I’d also suggest some counselling on your own to help you understand why you have gravitated to such a toxic, poorly thought through union.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 26/10/2025 14:27

Divorce him. His behaviour towards you is abhorrent . Don’t be bought off here by a mere expensive afternoon tea.

I would also suggest counselling for you .

Rockdaylia44 · 26/10/2025 14:35

He sounds awful get rid of him

ThisOliveHelper · 10/11/2025 18:43

Thank you for your replies. I think the thing im finding so difficult is that since thr 6 week break we had in may he has been back and fkrth to the marital home. Sometimes he has been difficult but over the last couple of months ive seen a real change in him. Its like all this anger abd hatred he had towards me has melted and he has become the reasonable and calm man that he was before all the trouble of the last year happened. When i see that side of him that is when i ateuggle to let go and i feel like im making a mistake.

Ive also made huge errors in this relationship. I feel i very angry very quickly with him and feel i have a problem with emotiobal regulation myself because for all of the last year i have just felt on tenterhooks and on edge around him and it leafs me to flying off the handle.

But at rhe same time im terrified because apart from the last year the relationahip was good. Hr was caring and the thought of walking away just absolutely fills me with twrror anf dread that i wont find someone who loves me or cares about me as much as he did because we honestly did love each other a lot. It just feels like huge trauma to walk away and know ill never aee him agakn or that we will never have nother date again and when i look at ny whatsapp now, he is still the main persob that calls me almost daily. We haveny properly lived together qhich makes throwijg the marriage away sonhardm im just finding it really hard to think this all through...

OP posts:
ThisOliveHelper · 10/11/2025 19:52

Is it possible for the abusive behavior to change? Does anyonr have experience of this?

OP posts:
LemograssLollipop · 11/11/2025 01:04

Don't stay with this guy and bring children into the mix. If it's this hard now at the start of the marriage things don't look good.
Your MIL sounds toxic and is stirring things between you.
Your post reads to me as if you are from South Asian heritage eg , India/Pakistan. I've seen this scenario play out before.
You deserve so much more OP. Being on your own is always better for your peace of mind and sanity than trying to please and second guess a man who isn't committed to you. There is no shame being unmarried in your 30s and without children.

JustWantsSomeSleep · 15/11/2025 12:37

ThisOliveHelper · 10/11/2025 19:52

Is it possible for the abusive behavior to change? Does anyonr have experience of this?

It’ll change while he needs you to reconsider and recommit to him but as soon as you settle back he’ll return to his old ways. You’re better off out of this relationship and there are plenty of men out there more deserving of your love.

Imisscoffee2021 · 15/11/2025 12:40

ThisOliveHelper · 26/10/2025 13:22

Edit - since may he has been coming down to the marital home and living there for a week or two. The marital home is in my hometoen and his job and home are in his city and he has a hybrud wfh job whereas mine is all over the place. I jjst feel so scared because he was the first man ive been invokved with nd in terrified ti lose him as i thought this was forever.

If you want THIS to be forever just because he's the first guy you've been with then you're condemning yourself to a half life. Being with the right person is so good for the soul, the mind, loving a person who loves you back with the same respect and adoration. Not this guy.

jeaux90 · 15/11/2025 13:19

Divorce please op your life will be more peaceful without him and his family in it

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread